Alex Padilla U.S. Senator for California

Housing for All Act would invest in proven solutions to address affordable housing shortages and provide historic level of federal funding for existing programs and innovative solutions to keep people housed and reduce homelessness

CALIFORNIA — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Representatives Ted Lieu (D-Calif.-36) and Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24) announced the reintroduction of the Housing for All Act, a comprehensive approach to address the homelessness and affordable housing crises in California and across the nation. The legislation would invest in proven solutions to address affordable housing shortages and provide a historic level of federal funding for both existing programs to reduce homelessness and innovative, locally developed solutions to help vulnerable populations experiencing homelessness.

As the Trump Administration undermines and defunds critical housing services across the country — including illegal staff cuts at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and potential closures of nearly two-thirds of HUD field offices nationwide — investments to boost the affordable housing stock and reduce homelessness are essential. The investments in the Housing for All Act would build on the creative solutions that cities and states across California have successfully developed to help combat the housing and homelessness crises.

“Housing is a basic human right, not a privilege. As the Trump Administration callously cuts essential housing programs and resources that Americans across the country depend on, our Housing for All Act is a blueprint for building upon locally developed solutions and providing necessary federal investments to finally treat the homelessness and affordable housing crises with the seriousness they deserve,” said Senator Padilla. “For far too long, the lack of affordable housing has hurt Americans nationwide and disproportionately harmed low-income communities and communities of color. Community leaders across California know that we have the tools to end homelessness and lower the cost of housing for Americans, but we need significant federal investments to scale up creative and effective housing solutions. I won’t stop this fight until every person has a place to call home.”

“Housing and homelessness are two significant crises we face today,” said Representative Lieu. “There is not enough affordable housing in California and across this country. Everyday Americans can work more than one job, and it’s still not enough to afford safe and stable housing. This is unacceptable. It’s time we finally invest in the proven, community-driven solutions that combat homelessness and create more affordable housing. I’m pleased to partner with Senator Padilla and Congressman Carbajal to introduce legislation that meets the urgency of this moment and helps get more people into homes.”

“Homes have been too expensive for far too long,” said Representative Carbajal. “While we have the tools to address this crisis, the challenge has always been scale. The Housing For All Act will make historic investments in programs addressing housing and homelessness–including my Safe Parking legislation–to ensure every American has a roof over their head.”

The lack of affordable housing access and the population of individuals experiencing homelessness are growing crises impacting Americans nationwide, disproportionately hurting communities of color and low-income communities. In the United States, over 770,000 individuals and families experience homelessness annually, and significantly more Americans face housing insecurity. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s recent Out of Reach 2024 Report, no state or county exists where a person working 40 hours a week and earning the state or local minimum wage can afford to rent a modest two-bedroom apartment. In fact, the average minimum wage earner would need to work 113 hours per week — nearly three full-time jobs — to afford a two-bedroom rental home.

The Housing for All Act would take an all-hands-on-deck approach to combat these crises, including investments from the federal government in housing solutions. Specifically, the bill would:

• Address the affordable housing shortage by investing in the National Housing Trust Fund, the HOME Investment Partnerships program, the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program, and the Section 811 Supportive Housing for People with Disabilities;

• Address the homelessness crisis by investing in Housing Choice Vouchers, Project-Based Rental Assistance, the emergency solutions grant program (which helps with street outreach, rapid re-housing assistance, emergency shelter, and homelessness prevention), and Continuums of Care;

• Support innovative, locally developed approaches to these crises by investing in hotel and motel conversions to permanent supportive housing with supportive services, the Eviction Protection Grant Program to support experienced legal service providers in providing legal assistance to low-income tenants at risk of or subject to eviction, mobile crisis intervention teams to help those with medical or psychological needs get the care that they need, programs that offer a safe place to park overnight and facilitate access to rehousing services and essential services, library programs that support people experiencing homelessness, inclusive transit-oriented development and infill development, and improved coordination of culturally competent, trauma-informed behavioral health and homelessness services.

Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) are cosponsoring the bill in the Senate.

Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.-03), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.-20), Cleo Fields (D-La.-06), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.-04), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.-02), LaMonica Mclver (D-N.J.-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-AL), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.-03), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.-09), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.-12), and Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.-13) are cosponsoring the bill in the House.

The Housing for All Act of 2025 has been endorsed by organizations and stakeholders including the National Alliance to End Homelessness; National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC); LeadingAge; National Rural Housing Coalition; UnidosUS; US Conference of Mayors; Corporation for Supportive Housing; Covenant House; Liberation in a Generation; American Library Association; Self-Help Enterprises; California Housing Partnership; California League of Cities; California State Association of Counties; County Welfare Directors Association of California; Center for Law and Social Policy; California Business, Consumer Services and Housing (BCSH) Agency; and more.

“At a time when more households than ever are struggling to make ends meet, and the number of people experiencing homelessness has reached record levels, we must keep up the fight for the resources needed to ensure everyone has a safe, stable, affordable, and accessible place to call home,” said NLIHC Interim President and CEO Renee Willis. “I applaud Senator Padilla for his leadership on the ‘Housing for All Act,’ which would provide bold, long-term solutions required to address the nation’s affordable housing and homelessness crisis at its root.” 

“Senator Padilla’s Housing for All Act recognizes the extraordinary work performed by local homelessness systems and would provide them with robust resources, including significant new investments in the Continuum of Care and Emergency Solutions Grants programs as well as Housing Choice Vouchers and Project-Based Rental Assistance,” said Steve Berg, Chief Policy Officer at the National Alliance to End Homelessness. “In addition to providing resources, Senator Padilla’s legislation would promote innovative policies like using motels and hotels for permanent supportive housing and specific efforts to help house the growing numbers of individuals and families experiencing vehicular homelessness. In introducing the Housing for All Act, the Senator is meeting the moment–and his legislation should inspire policymakers in the legislative and executive branches.”

“The Housing for All Act is a common sense, critically needed response to our country’s shortage of affordable homes—particularly for low-income older adults,” said Katie Smith Sloan, President & CEO, LeadingAge, the Association of Nonprofit Providers of Aging Services. “Our nonprofit members have years-long waiting lists—which means that many low-income older adults die before receiving relief in the form of an available, federally assisted house. The programs and policies supported by Senator Padilla’s bill will reverse course on record levels of housing unaffordability: for example, its authorization of $2.5 billion for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program would build new, service-connected affordable homes for older adults with average annual incomes below $17,000 a year. For these older adults, the private market alone has not, cannot, and will not solve the affordable housing shortage. As Senator Padilla makes clear, public resources are critically needed. LeadingAge enthusiastically supports the Housing for All Act.”

“The California Housing Partnership enthusiastically supports Senator Padilla’s Housing for All Act providing expanded federal resources to counteract the acute shortage of affordable homes, which in California has been pushing families and individuals into overcrowded situations and risking homelessness amidst the pandemic,” said Matt Schwartz, President and CEO of the California Housing Partnership.

“Now is the time to strengthen the commitment to programs that are successful in preventing and reducing homelessness as well as increase collaboration between federal, state, county, and city governments,” said Jeff Griffiths, Inyo County Supervisor and California State Association of Counties (CSAC) President. “Senator Padilla’s Housing for All Act would accomplish these goals. CSAC and California’s counties strongly support this legislation, and are grateful for his leadership.”

“The County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) is proud to once again stand in support of Senator Padilla’s Housing For All legislation,” said Carlos Marquez III, CWDA Executive Director. “Every day, California’s 58 county human services agencies work to stabilize and rapidly rehouse older adults, former foster youth, families experiencing poverty, and others at high risk of homelessness, but our efforts are limited by a lack of investment in affordable housing and in evidence-based strategies that get people off the street. Senator Padilla’s Housing For All legislation will enable counties to scale what works and provide immediate solutions to our housing crisis.”

“Cal Cities is proud to support the Housing for All Act, which would provide critical funding to connect our unhoused residents to services and keep Californians in their homes,” said League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman. “We all know there’s more work to be done to address the housing and homelessness crisis in our state and that every level of government has a role to play in finding a meaningful path forward. Senator Padilla’s bill will strengthen the partnership between all levels of government by investing in the diversity of solutions that cities throughout the state are carrying out to support vulnerable residents.”

“We’re grateful for Senator Padilla’s leadership in advancing legislation that would provide comprehensive resources to address the housing and homelessness challenges facing California and across the country,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Tomiquia Moss. “California has made significant investments, but we know real, sustained progress will require every level of government working together.”

Senator Padilla believes everyone deserves access to affordable and safe housing and recognizes the need to drastically increase the affordable housing stock to address the homelessness crisis facing California and the country. Last week, Padilla introduced the bipartisan Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act to ensure veterans experiencing homelessness and receiving disability payments maintain access to crucial housing support. In the aftermath of the Los Angeles fires, Padilla introduced the bipartisan Disaster Housing Reform for American Families Act to expedite, expand, and improve temporary housing available to victims of disasters like wildfires and storms.

Padilla has fought against the Trump Administration’s proposals to cut HUD staff and field offices who help provide crucial housing services. Padilla and U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-Mo.-05) recently led more than 100 Democrats in the Senate and House in condemning staffing cuts and potential closures of HUD field offices across the country. Earlier this year, Senator Padilla sounded the alarm that these wide-ranging cuts would hamper HUD’s ability to support vulnerable communities and address the housing and homelessness crises.

A one-pager on the bill is available here. 

A section-by-section summary of the bill is available here.

Full text of the bill is available here.

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